|

|

|
Report from Base Camp
by Audrey Salkeld
April 21, 1996
All climbing members of the team are now on the mountain,
where they plan to remain a few more days, spending another
night at Camp 2 where camera assistant Robert Schauer is
expected to join them today. He is a day behind, having been
trying to shake off an upper respiratory infection, which was
not helped when he accidentally stepped into a freezing lake
up to his middle while climbing Kala Patar last week. Ed
Viesturs forged ahead of the main group, carrying a load to
Camp 3, from where he reported the going between 2 and 3 was
very icy. He will not be sleeping there, but rejoining the
others at 2.
Base Camp is now quite a city with a dozen or so expeditions
camped along the mile of the moraine strip. It is curious
that, having voluntarily removed ourselves as far as possible
from the trappings of the so-called civilization, expeditions
then appear to vie with one another in creating alternative
'civilizations' of ingenious comfort and complexity. Elaborate
mess tents have sprung up, with electric lighting and in some
cases heating, music, comfy chairs and tables, as well as all
the business paraphernalia of phones, faxes and e-mail, though
these latter have proved fickle in practice. Even the Sherpas
compete in the construction of impressive camp kitchens,
mostly sangars (dry stone walls) with pitched roofs made from
heavy-duty tarpaulins and laid out inside with all the economy
and efficiency of kitchens in the best hotels.
There are several doctors at Base Camp—we share the
services of the New Zealand doctor on Rob Hall's
team—and Gamov bags are available both at Base and at
Advance Base Camp in the Western Cwm. With these, it is
possible to simulate the pressure of lower altitudes for the
emergency treatment of victims of one of the serious high
altitude disorders like HAPE or HACE (altitude-induced
pulmonary or cerebral edema).
Yesterday, a young British climber with Mal Duff's expedition
staggered down the Icefall in very poor condition after a
serious heart attack. He was on oxygen all last night, under
constant supervision, and evacuated by military helicopter
early this morning to the coronary unit in Kathmandu
hospital.
At Base Camp the main activities continue to be sending
expedition postcards and keeping up with our washing! We
socialize as much as possible with other groups—and
trade good books to read. Every so often some outdated
newspapers and magazines arrive by runner, so when all else
stops we catch up on news of the world outside.
May 27, 1996: Interview with David Breashears
May 24, 1996: They Made It! (Update)
May 20, 1996: They Made It!
May 16, 1996: Emergency on Everest
May 10, 1996: Taiwanese Victim
May 9, 1996
May 5, 1996
May 2, 1996: Team Returns to Base Camp
April 26, 1996
April 25, 1996
April 21, 1996
April 19, 1996
Photos: (1) courtesy Jenny Dubin.
Lost on Everest
|
High Exposure
|
Climb |
History & Culture
|
Earth, Wind, & Ice
E-mail |
Previous Expeditions
|
Resources
|
Site Map
|
Everest Home
Editor's Picks
|
Previous Sites
|
Join Us/E-mail
|
TV/Web Schedule
About NOVA |
Teachers |
Site Map |
Shop
| Jobs |
Search |
To print
PBS Online |
NOVA Online |
WGBH
©
| Updated November 2000
|
|
|